What is the difference between a project assistant and a project coordinator?

Question

Zippia Team · Accepted Answer

There is no difference between a project assistant and a project coordinator. A project assistant, also known as a project coordinator, is there to assist the project manager during any of the five phases of the project cycle. While some companies may distinguish between these two roles, for the most part, project assistants and project coordinators are the same thing.

There are actually several levels of project managers. The different levels of project manager roles have varied levels of responsibilities and expectations, and they include:

Assistant Project Manager (Project Coordinator): This is an entry-level management position that often reports directly to the project manager.

An assistant manager is an excellent midpoint for an employee who has aspirations of higher project management positions, allowing the assistant project manager to develop their skills in a practical setting and learn from the project manager's example.

Project Manager: This is usually a mid-level role in the corporate hierarchy. At a smaller company, a project manager may not work with any other employees in project management roles. At larger companies, a project manager may report to a senior project manager or director of program management, oversee work by a project coordinator or project scheduler, or both.

Senior Project Manager: This is an advanced management role, often filled by employees with at least four to five years of experience as a project manager.

The Director of Project Management: This is often the highest-ranking employee in a company's project management operation. The director of program management oversees the company's big-picture planning, including all projects executed by the company.